Traveling Trunk Program

Built on the concept of engaging students in primary sources, the Library and Museum's Traveling Trunks can supplement textbooks in new and exciting ways to interest students. While each trunk focuses on using primary sources in the classroom, they can be used outside of the social studies classroom and in cross-curricular instruction. For example, the Saving Our Seas! trunk was developed for science instruction to demonstrate the marine conservation initiatives of President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush.

These roller skates (circa 1950-1960) are part of Family Collection #4 from Raiding the Attic.

Courtesy George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum.

Raiding the Attic: Exploring History with Nana’s Trunk

Recommended GradeLevels: K-3Students imitate museum detectives exploring the treasured collections of 6 different American families. Through interaction with the artifacts and curriculum in Nana’s Trunk, students learn the importance of museums and archives, how to differentiate between a primary and secondary source, how to analyze objects for their historical significance, and what collected objects meant to families. The trunk includes a full curriculum with ready-to-use activities and lesson plans.

Recommended GradeLevels: K-12
Built around the concept of comprehensive thematic guides, the Saving Our Seas! trunk provides you with primary and secondary resources, scientific tools, and hands-on manipulatives that allow you to acquaint students with a variety of marine concepts including: diversity of life in the oceans, the role of coral reefs, the water-cycle, human impact on the ocean ecosystem, and the archival records documenting the work of President and Mrs. Bush to conserve our oceans. The goal of the trunk is to provide the tools and activities to ensure students understand the significance of the oceans and to help them develop active conservation plans to ensure their part in saving our seas!

Learn more about the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum - the facility, its staff, its partnerships, how to contact us, how to support or volunteer, its laws and regulations, and the National Archives and Records Administration.